Fire extinguisher



A. C. BADGER June 4, 1929.

FIRE EXTINGUI SHER Original Filed May 10, 1924 stopper and its cooperation withthe walls and outlet ports 01 the inner receptacle, a

falls away from the mouth when Patented June 4, 1929.

misses] arenteps.

ARTHUR o. BADGER, or NEWTON, massnonusii'rrs, AssIenon T0 BADGER FIRE.

EXTINGUISHE R COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION sAorrUsE'rrs.

ma nx'rrneursnnng Application filed May 10, 1924, Serial 110,712,262. Renewed November 12,- 1 928.

guishers of the type in which, by inversion of r the extinguisher, two reagents, previously kept separate from one another, are caused;

to mingle and to generate gas whereby pressure is exerted to expel theliquid contents of the extinguisher. In such extinguishersthe main body of the extinguishing liquid, containing in solution one of the comple mental gas forming reagents, occupies the body of the extinguisher while the other reagent, in the liquid state or in solution, occupies an inner receptacle having a mouth normally closed by a stopper, which however the extinguisher is inverted. 7

v The main object of the invention is to pro vide an extinguisher of the general type above indicated, in which the stopper is of a character adapted to spread and distribute theliquid flowing from the inner receptacle, when the apparatus is put to use, to the end that the reagent so distributed may mingle as completely and uniformly as possible wlth the liquid outside of that receptacle, whereby maximum generation of gas may be obtained during the'time required to discharge the extinguisher, but in such a controlled manner as to avoid too sudden generatlon of gasand too violent applicationof pressure. Another result secured is the wide and general dis- :semination of gas' bubbles through the mass ofthe extinguishing liquid, which is an important result n cases where the liquid contains a substance capable of maintaining in a'stable condition after its expulsion from disseminated gas. Thisobject and result of the invention may therefore be more concisely stated as being toeflect, by means of the formation and arrangement" of the controlled generation of the maximum gas volume, and un1form d1str1b ut1on of the generated gas throughout the mass of the liquid in the form oi'small bubbles of not use, means for guiding the stopper .to insure its assumption of the desired position when the extinguisher is used, and others, as will guide r'or the stopper.

the cap. and the'mouth of the extinguisher.

In the drawings which accompany this specification: V Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view appear froin'the following detailed descripof the upper end of the fireextinguisher embodying the present invention, the samebeing lnupright position prior to use;

Fig. 2 is a View of the same part of the extinguisher in its-inverted position;

ig. 3 isa perspective view in itsinverted position of my improved stopper or cover for the inner receptacle; Fig. 4' is a detail plan view Like reference characters Wh erever they occur in all the figures. p The numeral 1 represents the outershell o the extinguisher, 2 represents a ring forming the mo'utlrof the extinguisher body. and having a flange 8'to which the shell is secured in the usual, or any other suitable, Way,- 4 represents a cap which is adapted to be screwed .uponthe ring 2, andmay be of any former construction, but preferably that commonly usedwith'apparatus of this character. -A gasket 5 is shown as representingpacking means to make a leakage-tight joint between The m'ainportion of the fire'extinguishing charge is placed in the outer shellor body of the ex'ti,ngi1isher, and usually consists ofwater in which-is dissolved one of the gasforming reagentspu'sually the alkaline'reagent. It a substance ora'coinpositionof such substances or composition is preferably dissolved in the'm'ain body of the charge.

The complemental reagent, such as an acid,

. or'anacid salt in liquid solution, is contained in an inner receptacle or'bottle by which it is prevented'from mingling with the other part Y of the charge prior to use. Suchinner receptacle is here. shown as a cylindrical ar or can '6, of a diameter small enough to pass terials known "to the art as being suitable for thisiuse when in. contact with the usualFrethe receptacle is -'p'referablymzadeby' a tube of a suitable designate par ts "substances is used to'stabilize the" foamcaused liberation} of gas. bubbles in the liquid,

through theimouth ofthe extinguisher body, land ofalength great enough to contain the -required amount of reagent. Any of the ma- N agents may be employed for the receptacle of L my present extinguisher. The upperend of ceptacle-is" secured in any suitable Way. The sleeve 7 is provided with an external shoulder 8 which is, adapted to rest on lugs or a continuous ledge 9,1inside of the mouth ring'2, whereby the inner receptacle is supported.

The distance of the shoulder 8 from the ex-' tremity of said sleeve, is approximately equal to the distance of the lugs 9 from the end of.

' the mouth ring, and its outer diameter apthe liquid of' the outer charge so as to seal the proximately. equal to the inner diameter of the ring, whereby the sleeve is clamped between the lugs and the cap, and is also withheld from lateral play. Ports 10 are formed in the sides of the sleeve 7 adjacentto the mouth ring 2, and onthe inside of the sleeve below theports is a ledge '11 provided for supporting thestopper. This ledge is preferably formed with an-upwardly extending circular rib 12 between which' and the wall. of the sleeveis a trough 13 designed to hold some of stopper. The stopperl4; overlies the ledge 11 and is preferably formed with a complemental groove 15 to receive the upwardly directed rib .12,'the latter being preferably beveled so as to: make substantially line contact with theistoppen' However, the main object of the invention does not depend on'the sealing feature, and the latter may be omitted if desired. Then the seat for thestopperma'y' becomplemental to the curvature of the stopper, or flat; or indeed it may be made justas v shallow and narrow groove .15 (provided there is such'a groove). The lower, extremity of the stopper isfashioned as a stem- 16, the sides of which merge with the curve previously described, andthe' function of which is to guide the stopper, and pre'vent it from jam.-

ining in-the sleeve 7, asit drops when the extinguish'er is tiirnedmpside down. The stem passes througha guide 17 which is centrally supported in the receptacle by means of arms '18suitablysecured to the-wall'softhe-recep- I taclei A suitable construction-ofsuch guide and supporting armsis shownin Figure 4,

where the structure isindicated as made of; two metal straps overlapped at. their innerends and secured together, being bulged apart to provide the guideway between their "points of attachment to one another, and their outer ends being bent over to formlugs 19v adapted to be secured to the .walls of the receptacle.

[ made, howeven for instance as a casting. I

- Preferably the curvature above described The guide may be otherwise of the surface of the stopper beneaththe wid- 1 revolution. about the axis of the'stopper, whereby allthe elementsof such-surface in planes radial to such axis are concave lines of smooth curvature. to the sides of the stem portion 16, such stem portion being approximately straight and cylindrical, and at such points of tangency the curvature of these longitudinal lines has the longest radius. From this point the radii of curvature of successive parts of the curve become progressively shorter, but even at the upper; end of the curve, where it meets the rim of the stopper, the radius is so long that the center of curvature is outside of the rim of the stopper. In other words allthe centers of curvature of all parts of the concave elements referred to are farther awayfrom the axis of the stopper thanthe rim of the stops per. It results from this formation. of the curve that when the extlnguisher 1s lnverted Such lines are tangent v and the liquid pours out of the inner receptaclefthestopper spreads the liquid witha smooth and gradual change of direction and causes this'liquid to be discharged directly at high velocity into the enveloping body of liquid in the outer part of theextinguisher, particularly important fact is that the stopper when in the inverted position does not direct the flowing liquidupwardly or tend to cause a reversal in the direction of its now, as would be the case the center of curvatureof the extremities of the surface elements before referred to were inside o f'the rim of v, the stopper and the under surface of this part ofthe stopper. were formed with a groove or gutter. In generalterms the characteristic curvature of the under side of the stopper is that whichconforms to a stream flow, and is adapted to directthe flowing liquid outwardl-y without also directing it upwardly, and

without causing sudden changes of direction or retardingthe flow or making eddies.

In the discussion contained in'the foregoing paragraph, the ,groove. 15 has been. dis regarded. ,Although this groove may to a slight extent oppose the eifects there descr ibed, yet its width and depth are so slight that its effect is negligible, and so maybe disregardedzin considering the. .characteristic formation and results of the underside ofthestopper, but

ofcourse, if it is omitted as may possibly'be;

done, it. hasno effect at all.; This groove when-provided, serves the'purposeof causing the stopper to be firmlyseated and centered, also sealed by the liquid, when the extinguisherisin its normal uprightposition.

In its other dimensions and proportions, the stopper is made to conform'to the necessary distance between the, cover land the inner, end of the mouth ring 2. When "the extinguisher is inverted, the end of thestopuiper rests .againstthe cover,'and the length of this end from the rim of the spreadingcurve is-such that the latter rim then lies in the I est partthereof is continued as acurve of same plane with, or possibly somewhat above,

mensions and positions appropriate to the position of the stopper, their upper edges being within, or so near to, the end of the mouth ring that they do not overlap the rim of the stopper curve when inverted; and the height and width of these ports are great enough to permit a sufhcient, but not too rapid flow of liquid from the inner receptacle.

'l/V hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fire extinguisher of the invertible type, comprising an outer casing, an inner receptacle having a mouth far enough separated from the top of said casing to permit discharge of its contents when the extinguisher is inverted, and a stopper formed with a rim overlying said mouth and a central stem projecting into the receptacle and being centrally guided therein, the surface of the stopper between its rim and stem being concave with a longitudinal curvature on lines conforming to the lines of stream flow.

2'. A fire extinguisher comprising an outer shell, an inner receptacle having a stopper seat, a discharge port between the seat and the top of the shell through which liquid may flow from the receptacle, when the extinguisher is inverted, into the space surrounding the receptacle, and a stopper within said sleeve having a rim which overlaps and rests on said seat; said stopper having its under surface longitudinally curved from said rim on concave lines toward its axis. V

3. A fire extinguisher comprising an outer shell, an inner receptacle having an interior stopper seat, a discharge port between the seat andthe top of the shell through which liquid may flow from the receptacle, when the extinguisher is inverted, into the space surrounding the receptacle, and a stopper I within said sleeve having a run which overlaps and rests on said seat and a stem extending throughthe seat; said stopper having its under surface curved from the rim to the stem on, concave longitudinal lines which,

at the rim are approximately tangent to they end, an inner receptacle depending from-said mouth and having a stopper supporting ledge and lateral discharge ports between said v ledge and the interior surface of the casing at the mouth end thereof, a cap or cover for closing said mouth, and a stopper formed 7 p with a rim adaptedto rest on'said. ledge to close the inner receptacle, and having an under surface with a concave curvature extending from its rim on opposite sides of its axis on longitudinal smoothly curved lines of increasing radii of curvature from the rim toward the axis; the stopper being free to fall from sa-idledge when the extinguisher 1S inverted and havlng a lengthwhich causes it to be then arrested when the concave side of its rim is approximately flush with the surface of the outerfcasing' surrounding the mouth openlng.

5. A stopper character set forth havlng a seating rim and for a fire extinguisher of the a central projection extending from the plane of said rim,'the surfaces ofthe stopper be tween said projection'and rim being curved with a concave curvature approxnnatelytangent toythe plane of'the rim and havingine creasing radii of curvature from the rim toward the extremity of the projection.

In testimony signature.

I ARTHUR. c. BADGER.

whereof I have affixed my 

